Project and MEL Coordinator

Job title: Project and MEL Coordinator
Location: Iraq
Target Starting Date/End date: January 1st, 2025, to December 31st, 2025

Salary: $2500 per month

Deadline: December 09 2024 (Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so candidates are encouraged to apply soon)

ABOUT IWPR:

Founded in 1991 and operating currently in three dozen countries around the world, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) is an independent non-profit organisation that supports journalists and civil society to help drive change in countries experiencing conflict, crisis, and transition. Our work includes:

• Training and mentoring: IWPR trains and mentors journalists and rights activists to improve their ability to identify and present factual information.
• Providing platforms: IWPR helps local talent establish and strengthen media outlets and civic groups.
• Removing barriers: IWPR works with partners to remove barriers to free expression and citizen engagement
• Strengthening media and civil society: IWPR helps strengthen the ability of media and civil society to speak out.
• Empowering societies: IWPR helps societies find their own solutions.

IWPR’s reporting has exposed violations, led to political and legal reform, and improved people’s lives.

Summary:

The Project and MEL Coordinator will play a pivotal role in planning, coordinating, and implementing the project activities in collaboration with management, operations, and administration teams. This position provides essential administrative, reporting, and logistical support, ensuring compliance with funder requirements and organizational policies. The coordinator will review and monitor program progress to ensure alignment with established goals and objectives, while also overseeing the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) activities of the project.

Key responsibilities include preparing timely donor reports that effectively showcase program impacts, designing and facilitating training sessions for sub-grantees on MEL methodologies, and managing data collection processes to ensure high-quality and accurate data for decision-making. The role also involves maintaining procurement records, assisting with financial management, and resolving logistical challenges as they arise.

The Project Coordinator will collaborate with program teams to facilitate knowledge sharing and integrate lessons learned into ongoing programming activities, contributing to the overall success of the organization’s mission.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plans, coordinates and implement, in conjunction with the project(s) management, operations and administration;
  • Provides administrative, reporting, and logistical support to the project;
  • Conducts and administers activities and ensure compliance with funders’ requirements as well as with organisational policy and objectives;
  • Reviews and monitors program progress to ensure that goals and objectives are being met;
  • Supports the planning and coordination of all relevant programming activities.
• Oversee and implement MEL activities for the project:
  • Donor Reporting and Impact Assessment: Prepare timely and accurate donor reports, showcasing program impacts through effective MEL data presentation, and contribute to internal reviews on IWPR’s intervention outcomes;
  • Capacity Building and Training: Design and lead training sessions for sub-grantees and partners on MEL methodologies, enhancing their skills in data analysis and reporting;
  • Data Management and Quality Assurance: Manage and maintain data accuracy in IWPR’s online database and other tools, while overseeing the development of data collection instruments and ensuring data integrity through quality checks;
  • Data Collection and Analysis: Implement robust qualitative and quantitative data collection processes using both traditional and participatory approaches, ensuring integration into project decision-making;
  • Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Work closely with program teams to facilitate learning reviews with stakeholders, share insights, and adapt interventions based on lessons learned.
  • Resolves routine logistical operating problems as they arise;
• Creates and maintains procurement records including electronic records in the internal system and other systems, ensuring accuracy and integrity of data;
• Assists project(s) management and the finance department in financial management of projects, in coordination with the country lead team;
• Perform other tasks as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE:

• In depth knowledge of US Government procurement practices and regulations;
• 4 to 6 years’ experience in MENA – preferably Iraq – programming implementation with a USG-funded organization or on USG-funded programming;
• Experience in MEL capacity building, data analysis, development of Theory of changes, log frames and presenting evidence through both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Familiarity with qualitative evaluation techniques is highly desirable;
• Ability to work effectively to meet goals in a deadline-driven environment;
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention even under pressure;
• Proven ability to manage logistics, forwarding and clearing;
• Excellent Excel and Word skills and internet search engines;
• Experience working with vendors and contractors;
• Ability to perform job specific mathematics;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills;
• Proactive and highly organized working style;
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse team or independently;
• Accuracy, attention to detail;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic skills;
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally as required;
• Willingness to work with colleagues remotely across time zones;
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field; coursework in USG regulations strongly preferred;
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Interested candidates should submit applications with the following information:
1) A cover letter in English;
2) A CV in English;
3) Names and contact information for three professional references.

LANGUAGE: English and Arabic

TRAVEL: In-country travel

Only those who have been selected for interviews will be contacted.